Collapsible box



Aug. 21, 1951 P. J. KARAM 2,565,236

COLLAPSIBLE BOX Filed Nov. 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 24 INVENTURATTORNEY P. J. KARAM COLLAPSIBLE BOX Aug. 21, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Nov. 14, 1947 INVENTHR 1) WWW ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 21, 1951UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE BOX Philip J. Karam, Ottawa,Ontario, Canada Application November 14, 1947, SerialNo'. 786,097

ification and illustrated in the accompanying,

drawings that form a part of the same.

The invention consists essentially of th novel features of constructionas pointedv out broadly and specifically in the claim for noveltyfollow.- ing a description containing an explanation in detail of anacceptable form of the invention.

The objects of the invention are to devise a collapsible. box which maybe easily and quickly collapsed or opened ready for use to furnish acollapsible box in which the top and bottom may be removed withoutinjury to any part of the container; to eliminate the use of nailpullers or hammers in openingboxes, shipping cases and the like; tofabricate a collapsible box which may be used many times; to constructcollapsible boxes which may be used for containers, folding, shelves,play pens and the like; to make a collapsible box which will be simplein construction and inexpensive to manufacture; and, generally, toprovide a collapsible box which will be durable, dependable, andefficient for its many purposes.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the. cola lapsible box ready foruse.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the box showing the top partiallyremoved.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing. the sides of the box in apartially collapsed position.

Figure 4- is a side view showing the sides of the box. ina collapsedposition.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view as taken on the line 5-5 inFigure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view, as taken on the line 66 in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a perspective view show ng the top or bottom wall of thebox.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the variousfigures.

The collapsible box, a hereinafter described, may be made of plywood,wood, metal, cardboard and wood, or any other suitable material orcombination of materials.

Referring to the drawings, the collapsible box consists of the sidewalls, as indicated by the numerals it and I I, and the end walls l2 andI3, which are each hingedly secured to one another. The top wall l4 andthe bottom wall l5 of the collapsible box are adapted to be easilysecured in position on the side and end walls ill, ll, I2 and 13, orremoved therefrom.

The side Walls [0 and H of the collapsible box 2. each consist of apanel I-B which has the corners of same notched so as" to form. aprojection on each end thereof. The reinforcing strips H and I8 aresuitably secured to the outer surface of each of the panels l6, and arein the form of a rectangle.

The end walls l2 and I3 of the collapsiblebox. are each formed of apanel H! which is higher than that of the side walls It] and H. Thesepanels is are rectangular in shape and each have a pair of verticalslots 20 towards the outer ends thereof. The reinforcing strips 2| and22' are fixedly secured to the outer surface of the panel [9 at the topand bottom thereof. The horizontal members 23 and 24 are fixedly securedto the upper and lower surfaces of the reinforcing strips 2| and 22,.respectively. These hori-- zontal members 23 and 24 abut the upper andlower edges of the panel Ill and each extend inward to form a flange orlipatthe top andbottom of the latter.

The side walls l0 and l I of the box are adapted to hingedly engage theend walls [2 and I3 so as to form the four walls of the box. In thisrespect, the projections 33' on each end of the panels l6 engage theslots 20 in the ends of the panels l9. The projections 33 on the panelsI5 extend a predetermined distance through the slots 25 in the panels[9' and the vertical strips 25 and 26 are fixedly secured to the ends ofthese projections. In this respect, it will be seen that the projectionsonthe panels l6 are free to hinge in the slots 20 in the panels l9, andthat thevertical strips 25 and 26 retain the former in these slots, thusproviding a hinged connection between the side walls and the end wallsof the box.

The front vertical strip 25 on the left-hand end of the panel I6 of theside wall I0 is secured to the inner side of the panel; while the rearvertical strip 26 on the left-hand end of the panel it of the side wallH is secured to the outer side thereof. Furthermore, the front verticalstrip 25 on the right-hand end of the panel I6 of the side wall I0 issecured to the outer side of the panel; while the rear vertical strip 26on the right-hand end of the panel I6 of the side wall H is secured tothe inner side thereof. The reinforcin strips l1 and I8 which form arectangle on the panel l6 of the side wall ID are located at theleft-hand side thereof so as to leave a clearance between the former andthe panel I9 of the end wall l3; while the reinforcing strips I! and I8on the panel l6 of the side wall II are located towards the right-handside of the same, thus leaving a clearance between these strips and thepanel 19 of the end wall 12. The location of the reinforcing strips l1and I8, and the vertical strips 25 and 26, permit the sides of the boxto be folded so that the same will be flat when not in use.

The top wall 14 and the bottom wall l5 are interchangeable and adaptedto be fitted between the reinforcing strips ll on the side walls I and Hand the flanges which are formed by the horizontal members 23 and 24,which abut the upper and lower edges of the panels [9.

The top and bottom walls [4 and 15 each consist of the panel 27 which isadapted to hinge or bend in the centre thereof. The panel 21 isreinforced by the frame portions 28 and 29, which are each U-shaped andabut one another to form a rectangle. The frame portion 29 has thesealing strips 30 and 3| fixedly secured thereto and the same extendover the frame 28.

The cleats 32 are secured on the inside of the panel 21 and suitablyspaced apart so as. to engage the side and end walls of the box when thecovers are assembled thereon.

In the use of the invention, the side walls If! and II and the end walls12 and [3 are hinged open to form a rectangle. The bottom wall I is bentinward in a V-shaped manner and placed against the reinforcing strips Hon the side walls It and H. The bottom wall is then flattened and theends thereof extend in past the horizontal members 23 and 24, whichsecure the same in position. The sealing strips 30 and 3| are nailed, orotherwise secured, to the frame portion 28 which prevents the panel 21from bending, thus maintaining the same substantially in position withrespect to the side and end walls of the collapsible box. The top wall14 is similar to that of the bottom wall [5 and may be secured inposition on the box in the same manner as hereinbefore described. Inremoving the top or bottom walls from the box, the sealing strips 38 and3! are freed from the frame portion 28, thus permitting the panel 2! tobe bent and removed therefrom in an opposite manner to that previouslyoutlined in the assembly of the same.

In the foregoing, the box is described as having a front and back andalso a top and bottom wall; however, it will be noted that these termsare employed for descriptive purposes only and that the box may be usedin any position, with either the top or bottom wall serving as a cover.

What I claim is:

In a collapsible box, side walls each consist- 4 ing of a panel beingnotched at the corners thereof to form projections on each end thereof,reinforcing strips secured to the outer surface of each of said panelsto form a rectangle, end walls each consisting of a panel higher thanthat of said side walls, the panels of said end walls being rectangularin shape and each having a pair of vertical slots therein towards theouter end thereof, reinforcing strips secured to the outer surface ofsaid panel of said end walls at the top and bottom thereof, horizontalmembers fixedly secured to the upper and lower surfaces of saidreinforcing strips on said end walls, said horizontal members abuttingthe upper and lower edges of said panels of said end walls and extendinginward to form a lip at the top and bottom of the latter, theprojections on the ends of said side walls engaging in the verticalslots in said end walls and extending therebeyond, vertical stripsfixedly secured to the projection on the ends of said side walls tomaintain the same hingedly secured to one another, top walls and bottomwalls each consisting of a slightly flexible panel, a pair of U-shapedframe portions secured on the outer surface of each of said panels onsaid top and bottom walls, said U-shaped portions abutting one anotherto form a rectangle and permitting each of said panels of said top andbottom walls to bend along the centre thereof, sealing strips fixedlysecured to one of said U-shaped frame portions on each of said top andbottom walls, said panels of said top and bottom walls being bent tofacilitate the engagement of the ends thereof with the said end walls,and the free ends of said sealing strips being secured to the other ofsaid U-shaped frame portions for substantially securing said panel ofsaid top and bottom walls in a flat position.

PHILIP J. KARAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 234,450 Yaxley Nov. 16, 1880653,907 Duden July 17, 1900 786,858 Thomas Apr. 11, 1905 801,113 SisleyOct. 3, 1905 1,029,161 Williams June 11, 1912 1,054,378 Williams Feb.25, 1913 1,789,075 Kawasaki Jan. 13, 1931

